Why this strong biker and runner could be the next on a long list of German uberbikers who make the podium in Kona.

by Volker Boch

When the heat of the season comes down to its thrilling final at the IRONMAN World Championship, the list of favorites gets long and strong. This year, there is dark horse from Germany racing who’s much more than a candidate for a surprise in the men’s race. Boris Stein heads into his fourth Kona edition and he looks ready to end his season in style.

Stein headed to training camps in both Mallorca and Texas this year to train for the big event. "I have been doing the things I had to do," he told us calmly, regarding the bigger load of his training in recent weeks. "If things go too well, training will be too easy. But I'm healthy and that's the key."

Last year, Stein had the fastest bike split in Kona, but he couldn’t make it into the top five and finished in seventh. The 32-year-old who turns 33 five days after the race knows that he should be in the mix after the bike this year again, and that it will be important to be ready for the battle in the marathon. Two years ago, Stein ran to the win at IRONMAN France thanks to a 2:44 marathon, so it's clear he has the mental strength and ability to run fast in Kona, too.

After a season that started with injury issues, Stein feels his form coming on for Kona. The past few weeks brought him wins at IRONMAN 70.3 Gdynia and IRONMAN 70.3 Zell am See-Kaprun, but Stein doesn’t want to focus on these victories too much.

"After that season it's no award, but for sure things are going the right way," he elaborates. "Even if these wins weren't my best performances, the results have been great. Hopefully, I'm ready for my best performance of the year in Kona."

Read on for more tidbits from Stein as he gets closer to Kona.

Ups and downs

"The season didn't start as expected. I sprained my ankle and broke two lateral collateral ligaments just two weeks before IRONMAN South Africa. It's no issue with which you can't train at all, but I lost the pressure for my running technique and it took until summer to get back in. Since than I'm healthy and the fun is back at my run training."

Is the swim course in Kona particularly tough and tricky for weaker swimmers like you?

"In fact, the swim in Kona is an easier swim for me. Not only because of the salt water, but there are usually more weak swimmers, who have an interest in not losing a plenty of time than in every other long-distance race."

How did it feel to have the fastest bike split, come off the bike in sixth, and finish in seventh last year?

"I have to say that I was in super shape, well prepared, and I had a good performance on race day. The only mistake I made was on the nutrition side. I drank a little bit too little during the whole bike ride and missed two aid stations at the end. The first run kilometers on Alii Drive I was distracted with cooling down which cost me another two minutes. On this basis, I was unable to push myself into a one-on-one fight on the run."

Is leading off the bike an option for Kona?

"Being the first one in T2 can't be the first goal for a serious pro, but it has been a key for me in a lot of races. It will be an option, if the race dynamic allows it. I learned from last year’s race that I'm not a one-trick pony and as well not a race-plan guy. I try to make good decisions in the situations I’m in and play my cards as good as possible. For sure, I won't run much slower after a tough bike ride."

About running talent still to be proved in Kona

"Everything is about balance. But in my opinion, for a smart race you have to be in the front group. That’s why I'm still focused on my cycling performance to get more relaxed during the bike part and hammer it down on the run afterwards."

On heat management

"I think dealing with the heat is inborn in parts. Jan Frodeno has shown that a 'tall-athletes-suffer-in-the-heat' story couldn't be it all. Well acclimated, it has never been a problem for me."

Goals after taking 20th, 10th and 7th places

"First, I want to improve my result in Kona again. If the podium is possible, I'm ready to go all in."